Nsenga N. Jenkins

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY

Ever since high school, I knew I wanted to be an attorney — someone who would help people and be a voice for those who were hurt by others. When it comes to asbestos, some companies expose people and simply hope to get away with it. They act just like people who commit criminal acts and hope they won’t get caught. That is not acceptable. I want to make sure our clients get the justice they deserve.

Weitz & Luxenberg is pleased Nsenga Jenkins decided to join our dedicated and experienced Mesothelioma and Asbestos Practice Group litigation unit. She comes to us from the New York County District Attorney’s Office in New York City, which prosecutes people for committing criminal acts.

“Joining Weitz & Luxenberg felt like the next right thing,” Ms. Jenkins explains. “In the DA’s office, I stood up for people who had been hurt by other people’s criminal acts. In the case of companies that expose people to asbestos, they’re also committing horrible acts that hurt others.

“At the heart of it, it feels like I’m doing the same kind of work. These companies absolutely should not get away with harming people.”

Driven by a Purpose

At Weitz & Luxenberg, we couldn’t agree more. We asked Ms. Jenkins to come work with our team of specialized mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys because we recognized her commitment to helping people who had been injured because of other people’s actions.

“Everyone here is driven by a purpose,” Ms. Jenkins emphasizes. “The attorneys here love what they do. We all want to make sure our clients are heard.

“Our clients want someone to believe in them. And we want to fight for them and their families.

“They deserve justice, and we want to help them give their families peace of mind. They spent their whole lives working hard for their families, and even though they’re facing enormous challenges, they want to make sure their families are taken care of,” Ms. Jenkins adds.

Defendants Must Be Held Responsible

“Helping our clients is our number one priority,” insists Ms. Jenkins. “But we also want to make sure the defendants know that what they did is not okay.

“They should not get away with putting people’s lives at risk and then walking away as if nothing ever happened. These companies made choices. Choices that were about making as much money as possible. They weren’t thinking about keeping their employees and their families safe.

“That’s wrong. And they shouldn’t get a pass on this. They need to know what they did, how they hurt our clients and their families,” Ms. Jenkins points out.

Mesothelioma Is a Heartbreaking Diagnosis

“It’s heartbreaking what a mesothelioma diagnosis means for our clients,” explains Ms. Jenkins. “There are medical procedures that may be able to extend a person’s life, but the diagnosis itself is always fatal.

“Even worse, the diagnosis didn’t have to happen. If companies had taken reasonable safety precautions and warned our clients about the dangers of asbestos exposure, our clients would not be dealing with this diagnosis now.”

Aggressive Cancer Linked to Asbestos Exposure

“We have known for decades that asbestos causes mesothelioma and other lung diseases,” emphasizes Ms. Jenkins. “Asbestos is a known carcinogen.”

“What these companies did was unconscionable. They put money first. They put people’s lives at stake, and I want to do everything I can legally to hold them accountable for their actions.”

Serving the Public

Prior to joining Weitz & Luxenberg, Ms. Jenkins worked in New York City, in the New York County District Attorney’s Office in New York City. She served as assistant district attorney of the trial bureau from April 2015 until the fall of 2018.

Her responsibilities included investigating and researching the factual basis of cases for preparation of both felony and misdemeanor trials. She presented cases to the grand jury, conducted hearings, and tried cases.

Her work involved conducting extensive legal research, and interpreting and applying laws and court decisions. In addition, she negotiated plea agreements; interviewed and advised witnesses and victims; and worked with law enforcement officers regarding criminal proceedings.

Skilled in Research and Drafting Agreements

Soon after receiving her J.D. in May of 2013, Ms. Jenkins worked as a graduate law clerk for the Departmental Disciplinary Committee with the Appellate Division 1st Department in New York City. She reviewed and investigated complaints against attorneys for violating the Rules of Professional Conduct. She also assisted the deputy chief counsel in drafting legal documents and conducting case research.

From November 2013 until March 2015, Ms. Jenkins served as a rights & clearances and permissions associate at Disney/ ABC News in New York City. Her responsibilities included negotiating the terms and drafting license agreements between ABC News and third-party vendors for World News with Diane Sawyer/David Muir and This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

Ms. Jenkins is licensed to practice law in New York. She earned her J.D. from New York Law School in New York, New York, and her B.A. from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

When she’s not working, Ms. Jenkins enjoys being with her 2-year-old daughter. “That alone is a full-time job,” she says, and loves every minute of it. Ms. Jenkins also sings in her church choir.

Education

J.D., New York Law School, 2013

B.A., Dickinson College, 2007

Associations and Licenses

New York City Bar Association

New York State Trial Lawyers Association

Bar Admissions

New York

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